Such Luck – Skating Curbs & Eating Tacos

Weather:
Persistant gray, and when the sidewalk dries, out comes the rain.

This post is about a week late but I’ve been trying to stay busy especially since it’s no fun outside. No exciting photo’s this week. Watched “City of God,” last week. I haven’t watched a movie in a while. Allison watches a couple every week. They seem like too much of a commitment. It’s scary that she’s excited about the Xmen movie and I could care less. There having a reception on Wed. for Temporary Allegiance, I have a flag in there somewhere but unfortunately I won’t be able to attend. I think it’s good to try different stuff so for this fine project I’ve been doing some glueing. It should be finished and sent next week. For now here’s what the progress looks like.

This Saturday if the weather changes we’ll be getting ridiculous down at Burnham so make the extra drive. Short post after a short absense but I’m right in the middle of this supersecretmegaproject.

To tide you over here are some variations on a theme.

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Back to the peanut eating contest.    Solid.

Weather: Drizzling then muggy then pleasant and drizzling then looking like it might dry..no more drizzle

First things first, there’s a new puzzle and portrait so go look at those.

Personally I’m a big fan of the CTA, especially #816. That guy makes my whole day if I happen to get on his train. He doesn’t bother with the recorded program and instead narrates the commute with things like, “Let the passengers alight and then get back on, no child left behind.” One time on the way home on a Friday he told everyone to get home, open a beer or pour a nice glass of wine and watch some cartoons and let the week wash away. I still like this though…

Once the Saturday morning session got rained out I went to drop off Pat’s gift.

I hate Chicago style pizza, it’s like a brick of cheese and once it cools the cheese gets rubbery. It’s not good day old either and you can’t eat it cold because of the cheese brick. I’m sure someone could take me to some secret hole-in-the wall that could change my mind but for now I’ll stick with a good slice. That’s the one thing I’ve missed since I’ve moved. Every neighborhood should have a place where you can get a slice and a fountain pop and make a cheap dinner of it. If you’re really hungry you can get another slice and fill the cup again. I think this is the best slice in the city.

I haven’t been to a show in months, the Dinosaur Jr reunion being the last and I always say, hey look so and so’s coming I should go see them. But I never do and I was reminded why. For her part, Regina Spektor was absolutely wonderful and a good Russian mixture of Fiona Apple and Bjork. I’m glad I got to see her with 150 other people before she starts playing big venues with a backing band and a horn section. She’s very talented and can really bang the keys so go buy her record or watch her on the google video or smirk cause your punk-as-hell and you don’t play that hiphop pop music. Having said that I enjoyed the perfomance immensely, a few thoughts on why I don’t take advantage of all the groundbreaking live music Chicago has to offer.

• I’m sure this has something to do with the club making money by trapping you with nowhere to sit and nothing to do except drink but if the show starts at 8:00 and the opening band goes on at 9:45 that’s ridiculous. I’ve also seen the reverse, where the show starts at 8:00 and by 8:15 you’ve already missed five opening bands and half the headliners set. All I’m saying is start on time or close to it. If I wanted to stand for two hours and drink, I’d find a strip of asphalt on the hottest day of the year and grill-out in a speedo. Clubs without fans, ventilation, the windows open or AC don’t help the matter.
• I applaud the opening act for trying their best but I don’t want an encore. I’ll clap politely but I’m not asking for an extended jam session. Nice effort though, I hope one day you get to have your name on the ticket and then you can show up late while everyone mills around drinking.
• As for an encore, sure but don’t leave the stage, just play all the songs your going to play and be done with it. I’m not clapping in unison or chanting. I enjoy your music, that’s why I bought a ticket, stood here drinking for three hours and out of respect, didn’t throw bottles at the opening act. So please, go ahead, put on a show, wail on, and so forth.
• This isn’t exclusive to shows, it’s just a good rule to follow. If you want me to tip you, help out. I know you work hard, I have a ton of friends who work for tips, I’m not trying to jip you but please give me some tippable change. If two beers cost $9.50 and I pay with a twenty, don’t bring a ten and two quarters. I’m not giving you the ten. If I had change I would’ve paid with it.

Happy May and Immigrant Day, tell summer to show up quick.